Hair clip with flexing comfort features

Abstract

A hair clip has two body members pivotally coupled together by a spring-biased hinge mechanism. Each body member has a handle section and a hair-gripping section with the hinge mounted between them. The hair clip can have at least one handle-deflecting opening in each handle section to form at least one handle-flexing region where the handle sections can deflect outwardly into a low-profile flexed position. A mechanical stop may be provided to limit inward deflection. The hair clip can also have at least one teeth-deflecting opening in each hair-gripping section to form at least one teeth-flexing region where the hair-gripping sections can deflect into a low-profile flexed position.

1. A hair clip, comprising:
 two body members each having a handle section and a hair-gripping section with teeth; and 
 a spring-biased hinge pivotally coupling the body members together and permitting the body members to pivot between a closed position and an open position, 
 wherein the handle sections each include at least one handle-deflecting opening and at least one handle-flexing region laterally adjacent the handle-deflecting opening that are adapted to permit the handle sections to deflect outwardly at the handle-flexing region into a low-profile flexed position when the hair clip is in the closed position, 
 wherein the handle sections include mechanical stops that limit inward deflection of the handle sections, 
 wherein each of the handle-deflecting openings is provided by an elongated recess formed into a lateral thickness of the respective handle section through an inner surfaces of the handle section, and the mechanical stops are provided by facing inner surfaces of the recess that interfere with each other when the handle sections are pivoted together toward the open position and the handle sections begin to deflect inwardly, and 
 wherein the hair-gripping sections each include at least one teeth-deflecting opening and at least one teeth-flexing region laterally adjacent the teeth-deflecting opening that are adapted to permit the hair-gripping sections to deflect at the teeth-flexing region into a low-profile flexed position when the hair clip is in the closed position. 
 
     
     
       2. The hair clip of  claim 1 , wherein each of the handle-flexing regions is made of a resilient, elastically deformable material. 
     
     
       3. The hair clip of  claim 1 , wherein each of the handle-deflecting openings is provided by an elongated recess formed into a lateral thickness of the handle section. 
     
     
       4. The hair clip of  claim 3 , wherein each of the elongated recesses extends a lateral length of the respective handle section where there is any material. 
     
     
       5. The hair clip of  claim 3 , wherein the elongated recesses are formed in inner surfaces of the handle sections. 
     
     
       6. The hair clip of  claim 3 , wherein each of the handle sections includes a central through-hole and two outer-positioned side portions, the elongated recesses are formed in the side portions, and the side portions define the handle-flexing regions. 
     
     
       7. The hair clip of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one extension member protruding into one of the recesses and defining one of the recess inner surfaces so that the recess inner surfaces interfere with each other sooner when the handle sections are pivoted together. 
     
     
       8. The hair clip of  claim 1 , wherein each of the handle sections includes a protrusion into which the respective recess is formed to provide a larger surface area of the recess inner surfaces. 
     
     
       9. The hair clip of  claim 8 , wherein the protrusions are formed by built-up regions extending inwardly from the handle section inner surfaces. 
     
     
       10. The hair clip of  claim 1 , wherein each of the teeth-flexing regions is made of a resilient, elastically deformable material. 
     
     
       11. The hair clip of  claim 1 , wherein each of the teeth-deflecting openings is provided by a single elongated through-opening extending through a lateral thickness of the respective hair-gripping section. 
     
     
       12. A hair clip, comprising:
 two body members each having a handle section and a hair-gripping section with teeth; and 
 a spring-biased hinge pivotally coupling the body members together and permitting the body members to pivot between a closed position and an open position, 
 wherein the handle sections each include at least one handle-deflecting opening and at least one handle-flexing region laterally adjacent the handle deflecting opening that are adapted to permit the handle sections to deflect outwardly at the handle-flexing region into a low-profile flexed position when the hair clip is in the closed position, 
 wherein the hair-gripping sections each include at least one teeth-deflecting opening and at least one teeth-flexing region laterally adjacent the teeth-deflecting opening that are adapted to permit the hair-gripping sections to deflect at the teeth-flexing region into a low-profile flexed position when the hair clip is in the closed position, 
 wherein each of the teeth-deflecting openings is provided by a single elongated through-opening extending through a lateral thickness of the respective hair-gripping section, and 
 wherein each of the hair-gripping sections includes two outer-positioned side portions with the respective elongated teeth-deflecting opening centrally formed therebetween, wherein the side portions define the teeth-flexing regions. 
 
     
     
       13. The hair clip of  claim 12 , wherein each of the hair-gripping sections includes teeth and each of the elongated teeth-deflecting openings extends laterally longer than the respective teeth or the respective handle section. 
     
     
       14. A hair clip, comprising:
 two body members each having a handle section and a hair-gripping section with teeth; and 
 a spring-biased hinge pivotally coupling the body members together and permitting the body members to pivot between a closed position and an open position, 
 wherein the handle sections each include at least one handle-deflecting opening and at least one handle-flexing region laterally adjacent the handle-deflecting opening that are adapted to permit the handle sections to deflect outwardly at the handle-flexing region into a low-profile flexed position when the hair clip is in the closed position, 
 wherein the handle sections include mechanical stops that limit inward deflection of the handle sections, 
 wherein each of the handle-deflecting openings is provided by an elongated recess formed into a lateral thickness of the respective handle section through an inner surface of the handle section, and the mechanical stops are provided by facing inner surfaces of the recess that interfere with each other when the handle sections are pivoted together toward the open position and the handle sections begin to deflect inwardly, and 
 wherein each of the handle-flexing regions is made of a resilient, elastically deformable material. 
 
     
     
       15. The hair clip of  claim 14 , wherein each of the handle-deflecting openings is provided by an elongated recess formed into a lateral thickness of the handle section, wherein each of the elongated recesses extends a lateral length of the respective handle section where there is any material, wherein the elongated recesses are formed in inner surfaces of the handle sections, and wherein the handle sections include mechanical stops that limit inward deflection of the handle sections. 
     
     
       16. The hair clip of  claim 14 , wherein the hair-gripping sections each include at least one teeth-deflecting opening and at least one teeth-flexing region laterally adjacent the teeth-deflecting opening that are adapted to permit the hair-gripping sections to deflect at the teeth-flexing region into a low-profile flexed position when the hair clip is in the closed position. 
     
     
       17. A hair clip, comprising:
 two body members each having a handle section and a hair-gripping section with teeth; and 
 a spring-biased hinge pivotally coupling the body members together and permitting the body members to pivot between a closed position and an open position, and 
 wherein the hair-gripping sections each include at least one elongated teeth-deflecting opening and teeth-flexing regions laterally adjacent the teeth-deflecting opening that are adapted to permit the hair-gripping sections to deflect at the teeth-flexing region into a low-profile flexed position when the hair clip is in the closed position, 
 wherein each of the hair-gripping sections includes two outer-positioned side portions with the respective elongated teeth-deflecting opening centrally formed therebetween, wherein the side portions define the teeth-flexing regions, and 
 wherein each of the teeth-flexing regions is made of a resilient, elastically deformable material. 
 
     
     
       18. A hair clip, comprising:
 two body members each having a handle section and a hair-gripping section with teeth; and 
 a spring-biased hinge pivotally coupling the body members together and permitting the body members to pivot between a closed position and an open position, and 
 wherein the hair-gripping sections each include at least one teeth-deflecting opening and at least one teeth-flexing region laterally adjacent the teeth-deflecting opening that are adapted to permit the hair-gripping sections to deflect at the teeth-flexing region into a low-profile flexed position when the hair clip is in the closed position, 
 wherein each of the teeth-deflecting openings is provided by a single elongated through-opening extending through a lateral thickness of the respective hair-gripping section, wherein each of the hair-gripping sections includes two outer-positions side portions with the respective elongated teeth-deflecting opening centrally formed therebetween, wherein the side portions define the teeth-flexing regions, and wherein each of the hair-gripping sections includes teeth and each of the elongated teeth-deflecting openings extends laterally longer than the respective teeth or the respective handle section.